The objectives of this study is to estimate at first the prevalence of celiac disease in the town of Tebessa, to assess the health and nutritional status of celiac population of Tebessa and then to approach dietary regime associated gluten free with this population.
The estimated prevalence of CD was based on the collection of data at different health authorities of the town of Tebessa and at the population level from 2000 to 2014. The survey on nutritional status, health and the associated diet is made from 100 celiac patients attending two hospitals Bouguerra Boulaares and Khaldi Azzouz (adult and pediatric) of the town of Tebessa, inpatient or periodically monitored in short medical dietary counseling and long-term spread over a period 2008 to 2014.
Over a period of 14 years, from 2000-2014, the results rank among Tebessa the towns to the east Algerian or celiac disease is common (1.11 ‰). Celiac increases the number of 21 cases in 2000 to 246 cases in 2014 with an average of 133.73 ± 71.73 cases. The sex ratio in our study is 0.65.
According to the results, the age of reported cases is between 3 months and 51 years. Almost half of patients (121 cases or 49.18%) have a higher age or equal to 15 years. The proportion remaining is shared between children under 10 years (95 cases or 38.61 ℅) and patients belonging to the age [10- 15 [(30 cases or 12.19 ℅).
The nutritional and health status of celiac sufferers of the town of Tebessa is worrying. The main immediate consequence is nutrition: effects on body mass of the subjects. In subjects aged under 18, 16% of boys and 39% of girls are underweight. In adults, 52% of patients had a normal BMI, 18% undernourished grade I, 7% grade II malnutrition, and 4% grade III malnutrition.
The second consequence is anemia, which affects 64% of patients.
The results show that adherence to gluten-free diet is poor for most of the subjects followed. Strict respect
of the gluten free diet (GFD) was reported for 19% of cases. Several factors influence adherence gluten
free diet.
According to the survey, the majority of patients (86%) said that the GFD is difficult to apply. The out of home food and lack of appetite are the main problems caused by the application of the RSG among respondents with 84% and 67% respectively.